The Celtics return to the site of their 2010 NBA Finals Game 7 loss with much motivation but not great health. Paul Pierce (thigh) and Kevin Garnett (knee) are playing, Shaquille O'Neal (hip) and Kendrick Perkins (knee) recently returned, but Delonte West (wrist) and Jermaine O'Neal (knee) are out. Both teams are coming off ugly losses: Most Celtics observers are calling their loss in Phoenix the Celtics' worst effort of the season. Boston leads the league in field-goal percentage and assists, a credit to point guard Rajon Rondo (10.5 ppg, 12.5 apg). With 28 points, Kobe Bryant (25.1 ppg, 4.9 apg) will reach the 27,000-point mark for his career and surpass Wilt Chamberlain as the youngest to that plateau. Ray Allen slumped toward the end of the NBA Finals but is shooting 52.6 percent from 3-point range this month (40 of 76), so Derek Fisher will have to stick with Allen. Bryant usually guards Rondo.

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